Puppy on Wedding Day

I have a 1 year old puppy. I don't want to board him any sooner than I need to, and love the idea of taking a few pictures with him the morning of the wedding. However, he gets very excited when people are around and likes to jump a bit. I'm still training him not to do this, but I need to work on FH because he allows it, which is why after a year he's still a jumper. The jumping only lasts a minute or two and then he goes off and does his own thing.

Anyway, my mom and some of my bridesmaids think I'm ridiculous and I should board him the Friday before the wedding. My mom thinks it'll be too crazy and hectic to have the puppy around, and my MOH hates dogs. She actually has a fear of them. I understand what they're saying, but they don't understand that he's more than 'just a dog' to me. I also feel bad that my MOH is afraid of him, but part of me feels like if I want a few pictures with him on my wedding day I should be able to do that without getting cr@p from everyone.

To add to this, I just boarded him this past weekend, and witnessed the guy boarding him actually hit my dog with a broom. Not a tap, a hit with the side of a wooden broom. So now I feel even worse rushing him to a kennel after such a bad experience. I know it's only 1 extra night, but it just breaks my heart. Obviously he's never going back to that kennel, but I just don't even want to leave him in a new one.

Oh, I should add, I know he could dirty my dress, but I don't really care about that as much as having him around.

So, my question is, am I being ridiculous and should I just board him Friday? Or should I do what I want and keep him until Saturday?

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

Hmm—first of all, I’m glad he’s not going back to that kennel. How horrible! My dogs have stayed at the Petsmart hotel in Huntington and they seemed to like it—it’s a really nice place.

I’m torn about what to do with my dog too. He’s 3 so he’s not a jumper anymore, but a barker but I know I have to have him in the pictures. You don’t have a whole bunch of time before the wedding, but maybe just do some extra training? Clicker training can work miracles. Also, you could crate or fence him when you’re not taking pictures with him so he doesn’t go crazy on everyone. Personally, I would find a way to make it work because my dog isn’t just a dog either, and I would love to have him included in the pics.

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

I had my 2 doggies there on the day of the wedding. If your dog will be good I say go for it. If he will add to your morning stress I say find a babysitter. The morning of gets a little hectic and if you have to keep tending to the puppy it might get out of hand. You know how he will act though,.......SECOND of all You should report that person for hitting your baby. What place is this.......I am so upset by this and I would go straight to managment. Uhhh sorry bout that Good Luck with your decision

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

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Posted by staceylacey

I had my 2 doggies there on the day of the wedding. If your dog will be good I say go for it. If he will add to your morning stress I say find a babysitter. The morning of gets a little hectic and if you have to keep tending to the puppy it might get out of hand. You know how he will act though,.......SECOND of all You should report that person for hitting your baby. What place is this.......I am so upset by this and I would go straight to managment. Uhhh sorry bout that Good Luck with your decision

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I'd rather not say the place because I do plan on reporting them and I'm not sure if publicizing that could get me in trouble. It's in NJ anyway, so hopefully most of you girls won't be affected.

He's actually a very good dog. He never really acts up - it's literally the first minute of a new person walking in. Then he doesn't bother with them the rest of the day.

I will try some extra training. Two weeks should be a good amount of time. I just need to get FH to on board.

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

Question is, on your wedding day after you take pics with the pup, who will be responsinble for bringing him to the kennel ?

You won't have the time to do it.
It is a lovely idea to have pics taken with the pup, but perhaps you can do some 'day after' shots with him, when it is not so crazy with all these people around him.

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

my puppy is under a year old.. and we have no choice but to board him... we wanted to take pics with her really bad, but unfortanelty she is still crazy and its not practical. so maybe we can take pics with her some other time.
as for the kennel. we take her to levittown animal hospital... my dog actually likes it there!! they give her so much attn. i feel comfortable leaving her there.

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

FH and I were just discussing this last night. We have 2 dogs and they get very excited when people walk in too. My concern is leaving them home all day. I figure FH has to leave the house at 2pm and no one will be home to let them out for like 11 hours! I was thinking of boarding them, but FH doesn't trust anyone to take them. Everyone we DO trust will be with us at the wedding...lol
I say if you want the puppy in the pics then so be it...They are definitely part of the family...I totally know what you mean!

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

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Posted by SusiBtoM

Question is, on your wedding day after you take pics with the pup, who will be responsinble for bringing him to the kennel ?

You won't have the time to do it.
It is a lovely idea to have pics taken with the pup, but perhaps you can do some 'day after' shots with him, when it is not so crazy with all these people around him.

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The kennel has pick up services, and worst case scenario I have friends who offered to help so I'm not worried about that aspect.

I just wish everyone else would be okay with it. Maybe I'll just have the kennel pick him up at 10, or have my dad drop him off early. I guess my number 1 thing is that I don't want him boarded longer than he needs to. Pictures would be great, but you're right, we can do that another time if it's that important. If I have him out of there early it's at least a compromise.

ETA - thanks for everyone's opinions.

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

As far as the wedding day, don't worry about other people's issues with your dog.. your day, do what you want! I'm a dog lover too, I would just be wary of ruining your dress..

As far as boarding.. I don't know where you live, but I know there are people who take dogs into their own homes and watch them for you! I'd prefer this over actual kennels because the one lady I know of in Kings Park treats your dog as her own, doesn't keep them in a cage (even overnight), and she has a backyard for play time! Plus she's obviously there overnight (unlike some kennels) in case of emergency...

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

The morning of my wedding was hectic enough. I can't imagine if I'd have had to deal with a puppy, especially one that still jumps on people.

I'd find a good place to board him, personally.

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

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Posted by Kara and Todd

The morning of my wedding was hectic enough. I can't imagine if I'd have had to deal with a puppy, especially one that still jumps on people.

I'd find a good place to board him, personally.

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I have to agree. I understand he is your baby and you want him around but you won't need the added stress of a dog acting up. Board him in a place you feel comfortable with. Good luck

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

OMFG he hit your dog?????

WOW i would of hit his head into the pavement.. that is SOOO NOT COOL!!!!!!!!!

I have the same issue... I had to change vets because the vet that was stepping in for the normal vet decided to MUZZLE my dog which is NOT necessary...

Good luck with the boarding... If I hear of a great place I will be more then happy to share.....

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

from one 'i love my doggies' person to another, i totally feel ur pain! i wanted my one dog to take pictures with me in the morning...but because almost my entire family was staying over at a hotel the night of, it was near to impossible so we had no choice but to board them. we always put our pups at the Dark Star Kennel (i know i hate the name too) in Middle Island/coram area. The woman is the BIGGEST sweetheart...Her & her husband run it and it's actually in the back of their home! They are big animal rescuers and lovers! Our doggies get a HUGE cage together...she takes them out 3-4 times a day(and they get their own private dog run!) ...she also cleans everything & such for when u come to pick ur pet up. I absolutely love them...we've used them numerous times FM me if u'd like they're info..i've also heard great things about the Petsmart hotel...they're a bit on the pricey side, but what a place! anyways, good luck! i hope everything works out for ya!

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

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Posted by BunnyBride

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Posted by Kara and Todd

The morning of my wedding was hectic enough. I can't imagine if I'd have had to deal with a puppy, especially one that still jumps on people.

I'd find a good place to board him, personally.

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I have to agree. I understand he is your baby and you want him around but you won't need the added stress of a dog acting up. Board him in a place you feel comfortable with. Good luck

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I agree. Trust us....been there, done that....the morning of the wedding will be MUCH more stressful than you imagine it will. You dont want to throw apuppy who still jumps into the mix. Its not worth the 3 pictures you might get. Board him.

Re: Puppy on Wedding Day

Thanks for all the advice ladies. I also talked to FH some more, and he said that it's probably best to board him the Friday before. He made a good point that every time we're at my parents I'm always keeping an eye on him, and to top it off I just found out my neices (3 and 6) will be there, and they love to run around and scream with him. I just won't have the time.

As much as it kills me not to have him there, it probably will be best for all of us to board him. FH and I can always put our outfits back on and take some pictures down by the beach or something.

Thanks again.

ETA - There's a good chance I'll cry when we drop him off, especially after this past weekend, so it may be best for me to deal with that before the wedding day! I can't believe we're leaving him for 2 weeks